Top Keepers Returning to USL League One in 2024

With exactly two months remaining in the 2024 off-season, fans have at least one thing for certain: many of the top goalkeepers from 2023 are returning.

This story updated on January 12th, 2024 to include TJ Bush’s signing with Chattanooga and Ford Parker’s signing with Tormenta FC.

This week, Charlotte Independence announced that reigning goalkeeper of the year Austin Pack is returning, and on January 1st, One Knoxville announced the return of fellow nominee Sean Lewis. Third nominee Lalo Delgado was previously announced as returning to Northern Colorado Hailstorm in December.

Beyond the league’s designated top three keepers from 2023, veteran Rashid Nuhu returns to Omaha on a multi-year contract, Bernd Schipmann was announced as returning to Madison (along with backup Martin Sanchez) and Amal Knight and Austin Causey are returning to Lexington.

And while long-time Tormenta keeper Pablo Jara will not be returning to Statesboro, he will remain in the league as he signed with Richmond Kickers. His fellow Tormenta keeper TJ Bush also remains in the league, signing with Chattanooga. Finally, Matt Levy returns as Austin Pack’s backup in Charlotte.

Meanwhile, Spokane Velocity opted to sign a keeper from the USL Championship, Carlos Merancio. If he sounds familiar, it is because he spent 2019-2020 and 2022 with FC Tucson, then competing in USL League One. He spent 2021 with Hartford, and 2023 with RGV FC Toros, in backup roles. Spokane is also rumored to have its eye on one of the unsigned USL League One keepers.

Starting over, South Georgia Tormenta FC went with a USL Championship backup, Ford Parker. The 27-year-old has just six regular appearances in four seasons, having served as a backup with Birmingham and then New Mexico. He should gain significant minutes in Statesboro.

Significant names not returning to the league include Jared Mazzola, who departs Greenville Triumph for Sacramento Republic FC of USL Championship. The 24-year-old started his professional journey as a backup in Greenville late in the 2022 season and won the starting role outright in the beginning of 2023.

Long-time Richmond keeper Akira Fitzgerald also moves to USL Championship, joining NCFC. The veteran previously played for NCFC (then known as the Carolina Railhawks) from 2011 through 2016, and came up through their U23 system while a student athlete at Wake Forest University.

Still without a goalkeeper Fuego FC

Here’s a quick review of the returning keepers and who is still available:

Returning USL League One Goalkeepers: 2024

Austin Pack

The 29-year-old had a long journey as a backup keeper for various USL Championship sides, and a stint as Charlotte’s backup in the second half of the 2022 season. His opportunity finally came in 2023, where he started every match for The Jacks. To say he carried his team is an understatement. The offensively driven side relied on Pack to make some spectacular moves, resulting in a new league record of 116 regular season saves. He also added nine clean sheets, and helped take his side into penalty kicks against offensive powerhouses Union Omaha and NCFC in the playoffs.

Sean Lewis

The 31-year-old USL Championship veteran had a successful first year in USL League One, backstopping the league’s best defense. He won the 2023 Golden Glove award (best goals against average), and was nominated for Goalkeeper of the Year. He may have one new number in front of him, with regular center back Derek Waldeck moving on to Spokane, but will enjoy the continuity of returning defenders Jalen Crisler, Dani Fernandez, Jordan Skelton, James Thomas and Yesin van der Pluijm, along with team newcomer DJ Benton.

Lalo Delgado

After serving as a backup for two seasons with Phoenix Rising FC of USL Championship, Delgado got his chance in 2023 with Northern Colorado. The Goalkeeper of the Year nominee finished 2023 with a league leading and record tying 13 clean sheets in 30 matches, and allowed just 1.07 goals per match. If you ask Northern Colorado fans and coaches, Delgado was stiffed on the award. He’ll have some defensive changes in front of him with the loss of Arthur Rogers, Rob Cornwall and Leo Folla, but retains the strength of Bruno Rendon and Lucky Opara.

Bernd Schipmann

Having last played for Ratchaburi FC in the Thai League, 29-year-old Bernd Schipmann joined Forward Madison ahead of the 2023 season amidst a lot of uncertainty for that club’s season roster. He’d go on to play every single minute for the Mingos, and finish with 12 clean sheets, second in the league behind Delgado’s record-tying 13. Madison wasted no time in bringing him back, announcing his return on the first day of off-season signings.

Rashid Nuhu

Two-time Golden Glove winner and 2022 Goalkeeper of the Year Rashid Nuhu returns to Union Omaha on a previously announced multi-year contract. The 28-year-old has played with the Owls since its inaugural season in 2020, and has provided essential consistency for his squad. Nuhu recorded 8 regular season clean sheets and a career-high 75 saves in 28 appearances in 2023, backstopping his side to the Player’s Shield.

Amal Knight

The 30-year-old returned for his second stint in USL League One after spending 2020 with FC Tucson. The time between was spent with two different clubs in the Jamaica Premier League. After Austin Causey got five starts in a row early in the season, the team would turn to Knight as the number one for all but the last three matches.

Pablo Jara

After spending the first five years of his professional career with Tormenta FC, Jara was released along with a majority of the squad after a disappointing post-championship season. He was quickly scooped up by Richmond, who appear to look to him as their number one keeper with the departure of Akira Fitzgerald and the rumored departure of Will Palmquist.

TJ Bush

Also released from Tormenta in the off-season, the 26-year-old signed with Chattanooga Red Wolves, another club that seems to be starting over in net. Bush and Jara split the 2023 season, with Bush taking 15 appearances. It wasn’t the best season for either, backing an injury-riddled defense, but a fresh start at a rebuilding Red Wolves side could be what he needs. As of now, he’s a presumed number one with Carlos Ávilez rumored to be moving on, and the status of JD Meyers and Ricardo Jérez unknown.

Gunther Rankenburg

Is the 24-year-old the logical successor to Jared Mazzola’s starting position for Greenville? He made just three appearances, two of which were injury substitutions, so we didn’t get to see much. In his one start, he gave up one goal to Chattanooga in a 2-1 win for his side. Greenville has yet to make a move for a second keeper, and made a then 23-year-old Mazzola into a starter (and a star) last season. This may be Rankenburg’s moment to shine.

Austin Causey

Causey returns for another season in Lexington after largely playing a backup role to Amal Knight. The 22-year-old is now in his third professional year with only nine appearances, eight of which came with Lexington in 2023. Another year of development under Knight could be what he needs to snag his chance.

Martin Sanchez

He’ll likely support Bernd Schipmann again, but Martin Sanchez returns for another year in Madison. The 23-year-old has yet to appear outside of two friendly matches, but coach Matt Glaeser (himself a former goalkeeper) has faith he is up to the task.

Matt Levy

The 24-year-old joined Charlotte in August after graduating from Florida International University and spending time with the Charlotte Eagles of USL2. With Noah Abrams’ sudden retirement, he was thrust into the backup role, but never got a chance to appear. He’ll backup one of the league’s best in Austin Pack.

USL League One Unsigned Goalkeepers

The following keepers are unsigned as of the date of this publication:

Departing Goalkeepers